BIMA 100 Awards 2026

Honoured to share that I’ve been invited and accepted as a Judge for the BIMA 100 Awards 2026.

Every year, the BIMA 100 celebrates the people shaping our industry right now — the leaders, pioneers, entrepreneurs and change‑makers who inspire progress and create real impact. This isn’t about projects or campaigns; it’s about people and the influence they have on the future of digital.

The BIMA 100 Ceremony is one of the standout moments in the industry calendar, bringing together the top 100 brightest digital stars, fellow judges and the wider digital community. I’m incredibly proud to be part of recognising the talent that continues to move our industry forward.

Looking forward to celebrating the innovators and rising stars in March.

The Human Advantage: Reflections from the LIONS CMO Accelerator, London

In December 2025, I had the privilege of speaking at the LIONS CMO Accelerator Series in London, joining a room of senior marketing leaders navigating one of the most consequential shifts our profession has faced.

Building on my two previous LIONS presentations at Cannes Lions in 2022 and 2024 my session focused on AI. Not as a technology update, but as a leadership challenge.

The temptation when discussing AI is to start with tools, platforms, and vendors. I chose a different entry point: judgment. Because AI does not replace the fundamentals of marketing. It exposes whether we have them.

From funnels to learning systems

One of the core ideas I explored was the need to move from marketing funnels to marketing learning systems. AI works best when organisations treat marketing as a continuous feedback loop rather than a sequence of campaigns.

That shift sounds technical. It is not. It is cultural.

Learning systems demand clarity of intent, data discipline, and the courage to say no. Without those, AI simply accelerates noise.

Strategy still means sacrifice

A recurring theme in the room was overload. Too many tools. Too many vendors. Too many experiments without ownership.

The essence of strategy has not changed. It is still about sacrifice.

In a landscape with more than 15,000 marketing technology vendors, the competitive advantage does not come from doing more. It comes from choosing deliberately: which platforms to commit to, which problems to solve, and which capabilities to build internally.

AI rewards focus. Indecision is expensive.

Agents, automation, and the next generation of teams

We also discussed AI agents and automation, not as abstractions, but as practical extensions of teams. We are likely the last generation of leaders who will manage human-only teams.

That reality raises new questions for CMOs: governance, training, data quality, and accountability. AI needs ownership. It needs rules. It needs leaders who understand both its power and its limits.

The human edge does not disappear

The most important part of the session came at the end.

I heard this first, I recall, from Mark Ritson. AI is not going to kill marketing. And it is not going to save it either.

The only thing truly threatened by AI is low-imagination work. When everyone has access to the same models, the only remaining competitive advantage is taste. Taste cannot be automated. It cannot be commoditised. It cannot be downloaded.

Technology accelerates. Feelings scale. But meaning still comes from us.

The next creative revolution will not be AI-driven. It will be human-AI hybrid craft, where imagination, judgment, and emotional intelligence are amplified rather than outsourced.

Speaking at the LIONS CMO Accelerator was a reminder that the future of marketing will not be decided by tools alone. It will be shaped by leaders willing to combine discipline with creativity, and efficiency with meaning.

That is where the real advantage lies.

Effie Awards Judging Panel

I’m honoured to share that I’ve been invited to join the judging panel for the Effie Awards UK 2025. The Effies are among the most prestigious accolades in the marketing and advertising industry—celebrating ideas that work, campaigns that drive measurable impact, and creative strategies that deliver real business results. It’s a privilege to contribute to recognising and rewarding effectiveness at the highest level.

This builds on my ongoing experience as a judge for the Oystercatchers Awards, where I’ve had the pleasure of serving on the panel for the past three years. Both judging experiences are a welcome opportunity to learn from the best in the industry, engage with bold ideas, and uphold the standards of marketing excellence we all strive for. I’m excited to play a part in spotlighting work that truly moves the needle.

Independent Agency Awards Judging

I’m delighted to have been invited to judge the Association of Independent Agencies (AIA) Awards—a celebration of the creativity, agility, and impact delivered by the UK’s leading independent agencies. The awards shine a spotlight on the bold thinking and entrepreneurial spirit that define the independent sector.

Round one judging is now complete, and I’m pleased to see the shortlist now live, reflecting the depth of talent and innovation across the industry. Judging these awards has been a rewarding opportunity to engage with inspiring work, and I look forward to seeing the winners revealed in due course.

Honoured to Judge the Oystercatchers Awards 2024 for the Third Year Running!

I’m honoured to serve on the judging panel for the Oystercatchers Awards 2024 for the third year running!

It’s inspiring to see the record-breaking number of entries and the incredible talent in our industry. I look forward to recognizing the agencies setting new standards to foster impactful client relationships.

Stay tuned for the shortlist reveal!

The Oystercatchers Awards 2024 are now open

It’s that time of the year when the best agencies submit their work for the Oystercatchers annual awards. These awards are highly anticipated and revered in the industry, offering a unique platform to recognize and celebrate the symbiotic relationships between brands and agencies. The Oystercatchers Awards stand out as the only awards dedicated to celebrating the excellence in brand and agency partnerships. They focus on honouring agencies for their campaigns, overall business impact, and ability to foster successful client relationships.

The Awards are open

The Oystercatchers Awards are now open for entry for 2024. You can review the categories and entry criteria for the Oystercatchers Awards 2024 here.

Why should you enter the Oystercatchers Awards? Entering the Oystercatchers Awards puts your work in front of a top-tier squad of judges. The panel features senior marketers from global brands, providing a rare opportunity to showcase your agency’s finest work to those who set the industry standards. This exposure can significantly enhance your agency’s reputation, opening doors to new opportunities and partnerships.

Winning an Oystercatchers Award establishes you amongst your peers and demonstrates your successes to the wider industry. It’s not just about the recognition; it’s about the validation of your agency’s hard work, creativity, and the impact you have made in the market. An award from Oystercatchers is a mark of excellence that can differentiate your agency in a highly competitive landscape.

A Unique Judging Experience

I’ve been involved in the judging panel for three years, and each year brings a fresh wave of inspiration. The showcase of leading agencies, brands, and people is nothing short of extraordinary. The judging process is rigorous, ensuring that only the best and most deserving campaigns are honoured. This thorough evaluation guarantees that winning an Oystercatchers Award is a prestigious accolade, recognized and respected across the industry.

Benefits of Winning

Winning an Oystercatchers Award can have numerous benefits for your agency. Here are a few:

1. Enhanced Credibility and Trust

Winning an award from such a respected institution boosts your credibility and helps in building trust with potential clients. It signals to the industry that your agency is capable of delivering exceptional results.

2. Increased Visibility

An award win can significantly increase your agency’s visibility in the market. It provides a platform to showcase your work to a wider audience, including potential clients and partners.

3. Attraction of Top Talent

Talented professionals are always on the lookout for agencies that are recognized for their excellence. Winning an award can make your agency more attractive to top talent, helping you to build a stronger, more capable team.

4. Boosted Morale

An award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of your team. It can boost morale and motivate your team to continue striving for excellence.

Categories and Criteria

The Oystercatchers Awards feature a variety of categories, each designed to highlight different aspects of agency performance and client collaboration. Whether your strength lies in creativity, strategic thinking, or client relationship management, there is a category that can showcase your unique capabilities. The detailed entry criteria ensure that every submission is evaluated fairly and comprehensively.

How to Enter

Entering the Oystercatchers Awards is a straightforward process. Visit the 2024 Oystercatchers Awards page to review the categories and entry criteria, and submit your entry. The submission process is designed to be user-friendly, allowing you to present your work in the best possible light.

Conclusion

The Oystercatchers Awards 2024 offers an unparalleled opportunity for agencies to gain recognition and showcase their work on a grand stage. By entering, you put your agency in the spotlight, gaining the chance to be acknowledged by industry leaders and peers alike. Don’t miss this opportunity to demonstrate your agency’s excellence and take your place among the best in the industry.

Visit the 2024 Oystercatchers Awards page and submit your entry today. For more insights and updates, see some of my posts from the 2023 Oystercatchers Awards night.

Day one: Cannes Lions 2022

My first day at Cannes Lions was action-packed, starting with Gary Kasparov and the Regain Ukraine brand using the power of creativity to support Ukraine in the war with Russia.

The next session was with award-winning CMOs from AB InBev and Microsoft. Marcel Marcondes, AB InBev Global CMO, spoke about building great brands and that 'without trust, there is no greatness'. Trust takes time to develop, and I believe that it must be a goal that is a foundation for what you do. Kathleen Hall from Microsoft, who won the Cannes Lions Creative Marketer of the Year in 2021, spoke about the creative work Microsoft has done on inclusion in Gaming with new devices and controllers for differently-abled people. It was inspiring to see people transform when they could play like their friends using these devices for gaming and learning.

I then worked in a group led by Cindy Gallop on rebuilding the Agency model. I admire Cindy as an intelligent and thoughtful leader who, in her own words, 'likes to blow shit up. Cindy broke us out into six teams to build our agency based on new rules without reference to out-of-date models. This session was with talented specialists making a case for what is needed to achieve these goals. There are lessons I will take back with me to use with my teams.

We were then introduced to four creative industry members from Ukraine whose worlds have been turned upside down since February 24, when Russia invaded Ukraine—hearing the stories of people who lived exactly as we do in a modern European nation now suffering a war in Europe and their experience of 'creativity under bombs'. We were fortunate to be surprised with a special guest, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine. Zelenskyy spoke about how this group of Marketing and Communications leadership could help Ukraine win the war by using branding as a tool and a weapon. Brave Ukraine is a brand to build, retain, and expand awareness of the atrocities being done daily in Europe.

The creative, brand, and marketing leadership of Nike then showcased three different approaches to working with your users to produce great results. The team from Nike spoke about how every one of us is an athlete. They did not talk about users or customers but athletes. The focus on the athlete is a vital part of the vision about who they serve and what they do for athletes. I learned about the goal of achieving the first sub-two-hour marathon and focusing on making products that deliver for athletes. Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya covered 26.2 miles in 2 hours 25 seconds - just 26 seconds short of the goal. The team then showcased the value of crazy dreams and checking if your goal isn't yet crazy enough to deliver the change you want. I have an action item to review my own goals. Finally, the team showcased the difference that can be achieved to normalise through cultural awareness and the introduction of clothing, and equipment to solve bespoke needs for groups such as pregnant women, Muslim women, and other athletes and the impact this can have on civil society.

Today I managed to make it to one of the secret speaker sessions. The speaker was AY Young, and I was introduced to him with a fist bump. AY sang, danced, spoke, and inspired a room full of creatives, communication, and marketing specialists through his work as a Young Ambassador Envoy for the United Nations and the 17 Development goals. It’s not easy to have a room full of grown adults singing, ‘we can change the world’. AY is an inspiring young performer focused on improving the world by delivering the 17 Development Goals of the United Nations. Do you know what? We can change the world, and we are the only people who will do it.

We organised the day's sessions with the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media. Founded initially to monitor and rebalance gender and gender roles in the media, their research now examines the intersectional onscreen representation of six identities: gender, race, LGBTQIA+, disability, age 50+, and body type. In many areas, there has been significant improvement in the representation of these identities in essential roles, including speaking and being in leadership positions. I will take away ideas from this as a framework to better present all of us.

This was a huge day with a massive amount of discussion, learning, and reflection on the power of creativity to change the world. As a creative leader, I believe we can change the world.

#CannesLions2022 #IONatCannes